NM/TXW TOURNAMENT RULES THAT APPLY IN ADDITION TO
USSSA NATIONAL RULES AMENDED MARCH 6, 2008 - - REVISED APRIL 30, 2008 --
REVISED 6/26/2008 - - AMENDED SEPTEMBER 24, 2008 - - AMENDED 8/19/2009
ALL COACHES MUST ATTEND ONE COACHES MEETING PRIOR TO TEAM PLAYING FIRST GAME
ALL PLAYERS MUST CHECK- IN PRIOR TO FIRST GAME IN WHICH THEY PARTICIPATE. ALL TEAMS MUST CHECK IN AT THE TOURNAMENT HEADQUARTERS AND PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING AT CHECK-IN: TEAM ROSTER SIGNED BY COACH AND PLAYERS; ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATES OR CERTIFIED COPY; (IDENTIFICATION AS REQUIRED BY USSSA, SCHOOL ID) FOR EACH PLAYER PARTICIPATING IN TOURNAMENT; AND A OPPORTUNITY FOR EACH PLAYER TO SPEAK WITH TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS PRIOR TO TEAM'S FIRST GAME. PLEASE ALLOW ADEQUATE TIME TO ACCOMPLISH THIS TASK PRIOR TO YOUR FIRST GAME. ROSTERS MUST BE FINALIZED AND ONLINE BY MIDNIGHT PRIOR TO FIRST GAME OF CURRENT TOURNAMENT. YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN COPY OF YOUR ONLINE ROSTER TO CHECK IN.
A COACH AND/OR PLAYER EJECTION IS FOR REMAINDER OF GAME AND THE FOLLOWING GAME. FAN EJECTION IS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TOURNAMENT, NO GATE ADMISSION REFUND. THE RULE IS “GO TO THE PARKING LOT” i.e. "OUT OF SIGHT AND SOUND"
ALL BASEBALLS MAY BE ANY BRAND BUT MUST BE USSSA STAMPED. WE HAVE SOME AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE.
COACHES UPON COMPLETION OF YOUR GAME PLEASE SHAKE HANDS WITH YOUR OPPONENTS AND VACATE YOUR DUGOUT TO ALLOW FOR NEXT GAME TO START. YOUR TEAM MEETINGS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED OFF THE FIELD.
RUN RULES 20 AFTER 1 INNING; 15 AFTER 2 INNINGS; 10 AFTER 3 INNINGS; 8 AFTER 4 INNINGS AND THEREAFTER TIES ARE ALLOWED IN POOL PLAY ONLY
IN ELIMINATION GAMES, CALIFORNIA TIE BREAKER RULE IS APPLICABLE, LAST OUT OF PRIOR INNING STARTS ON SECOND BASE (TAKES EFFECT WHEN TIME EXPIRES OR COMPLETION OF REGULATION GAME INNINGS)
MINIMUM TIME LIMITS/TIME LIMITS APPLY TO ALL GAMES UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
8U ---60 MINUTES - - 6 INNINGS
9U-12U---80 MINUTES - - 6 INNINGS
13-14U----90 MINUTES - - 7 INNINGS
THE POSTED TIMES AND FIELDS AT THE SITE ARE CONTROLLING. BE PREPARED TO PLAY 45 MINUTES PRIOR TO SCHEDULED GAME TIME, IN CASE OF FORFEITS OR GAMES STOPPED BY RUN RULE
8.05.B A player removed from the pitching position (starting pitcher or subsequent relief pitcher) may not return to the pitching position for the remainder of the game. The defensive team may correct this rules infraction at any time by substituting a legal pitcher without penalty. If an illegal pitcher is permitted to pitch, any pitch or play that results is legal. The rule violation should be caught by the umpire or the offensive team and immediately corrected.
Rule 8.05.B Comment: If the violating pitcher has legal innings remaining, the violation is deemed an improper substitution and is corrected without penalty.
Rule 8.05.B Penalty: If the violating pitcher has no legal innings remaining, it’s deemed a pitching limitations violation pursuant to USSSA Rule 8.05.C.7.
8.05.C(Chart 8.05.C-1) The end of the day for the pitching limitation rules is the time of day or night when the ballpark is shutdown and the teams go home for the night break. Games that for any reason extend past midnight (12:00 AM) or start late at night, past midnight (12:00 AM) and are completed before the teams take the night break, will count as being played on the scheduled day. A game not completed before the night break pursuant to USSSA Rules 8.03.C.1(a) & 8.03.C.2(a) , shall be a suspended game. Suspended games, when resumed (the next day or another day), shall count as being played on two different days. The outs recorded during the portion of the game played prior to suspension shall count as being played on the regularly scheduled day and the outs recorded during the portion of the game played once resumed, shall count as being played on the resumed day.
8.05.C.1 ONE DAY MAXIMUM TO PITCH THE THE NEXT DAY: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in one (1) day and still pitch the next day.
Rule 8.05.C.1 Example: In the 7U –14U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of three (3) innings in one (1) day and still legally pitch the next day. If the player pitches three and one-third (3 1/3) or more innings in one (1) day, the player can not legally pitch the next day.
8.05.C.2 ONE DAY MAXIMUM: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in one (1) day.
Rule 8.05.C.2 Example: In the 7U – 12U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of six (6) innings in one (1) day. The player would be ineligible to pitch the next day. Similarly, in the 13U –14U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of seven (7) innings in one (1) day. The player would be ineligible to legally pitch the next day.
8.05.C.3 THREE DAY MAXIMUM: The maximum number of innings a player can legally pitch in three (3) consecutive days.
MAX TO PITCH MAX ONE TOTAL
NEXT DAY DAY TOURNAMENT
7U – 12U 3 6 8
13U – 14U 3 7 8
Chart 8.05.C-1
12
Rule 8.05.C.3 Example: In the 7U – 14U age divisions, a player may legally pitch a maximum of eight (8) innings in three (3) consecutive days. This is to be interpreted as a player may legally pitch any combination of innings to equal eight (8) innings in two (2) days as long as the player doesn’t pitch more than three (3) innings the first (1st) day. Similarly, as a player may legally pitch any combination of innings to equal eight (8) innings in three (3) days as long as the player doesn’t pitch more than three (3) innings the first (1st) or second (2nd) days.
8.05.C.4 MANDATORY DAYS OF REST;
8.05.C.4(a) A player that pitches more than three (3) innings in one day MUST rest the next day.
8.05.C.4(b) A player that pitches eight (8) innings in two (2) consecutive days MUST rest the next day.
8.08.C.4(c) A player that pitches eight (8) innings in three (3) consecutive days MUST rest the next day.
8.08.C.4(d) A player that pitches three (3) consecutive days (regardless of total quantity of innings pitched) MUST rest the next day.
9U / 10U (45' MOUND DISTANCE/65' BASES)
11U / 12U (50' MOUND DISTANCE/70' BASES)
13U (54' or 60' MOUND DISTANCE /80' or 90' BASES)
14U (60' MOUND DISTANCE/90' BASES)
YOU MAY HIT ENTIRE ROSTER BUT MUST BE ENTIRE ROSTER IN ATTENDANCE.
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR MAY COMBINE AGE GROUPS WHEN NECESSARY DUE TO LACK OF ATTENDANCE, FOR EXAMPLE 9 AND 10 OR 11 AND 12 OR 13 AND 14 OR HS.
USSSA DOES NOT REQUIRE 14U BATTERS TO USE -3 BATS BUT PLAYERS MAY USE - 3 BAT DIFFERENTIAL IN TOURNAMENT AND EVENT PLAY BUT USSSA LEAGUES MAY REQUIRE 14U TO USE -3 WITHOUT NATIONAL OR STATE REQUEST OR APPROVAL.
ALL PLAYERS MUST HAVE A NON-REPEATING NUMBER ON THEIR JERSEY OR SHIRT
ALL TOURNAMENTS PLAYED IN NM AND TEXAS WILL FOLLOW “TEXAS SAFETY RULES” IN AGES 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14:
THIS RULE ONLY APPLIES WHEN THE RUNNER AT THIRD BREAKS FOR HOME PLATE SIMULTANEOUS WITH THE DELIVERY OF THE PITCH:
WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE BATTER MUST EITHER
1) LET THE PITCH TRAVEL TO THE CATCHER WITHOUT SWINGING OR
2) MAKE A MOVEMENT CONSISTENT WITH BUNTING THE BALL.
IF THE BATTER MAKES A MOVEMENT INTERPRETED AS SWINGING OR BUNT/SLASH AT THE PITCH, THE BATTER IS AUTOMATICALLY OUT. FURTHERMORE THE PITCH WILL BE RULED A “DEAD BALL” WITH THE RUNNER RETURNING TO THIRD BASE AND THE THIRD BASE COACH WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE GAME.
EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE OCCURS ONLY WHEN THERE ARE TWO OUTS AND THE BATTER COUNT IS FULL (3-2): IN THIS CASE RUNNER AT THIRD MUST PROCEED TO HOME PLATE CLEARLY IN FOUL TERRITORY.
IN 7U/8U COACH PITCH GAMES ALL PITCHES MUST BE BETWEEN 32 AND 40 MPH BASED ON RADAR GUN AND FAILURE MAY RESULT IN THE CALLING OF A DEAD BALL AND ALL RESULTING PLAY ON THAT PITCH CALLED BACK TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE OFFENSE.
PROTESTS: $100 CASH. DECISION MADE DURING GAME AT TIME OF PROTEST LODGED FOR AGE, PITCHING VIOLATION AND RULE INTERPRETATION ONLY. UIC, TOURNAMENT AND SITE DIRECTORS WILL RENDER DECISION. NO AFTER GAME PROTESTS ALLOWED EXCEPT FOR ROSTER AND ELIGIBILITY VIOLATIONS.
WEATHER OPTIONS (WHEN APPLICABLE)
1) ELIMINATE 10 - 20 MINUTES FROM GAME LENGTH
2) ALL BATTERS START WITH 2-1 COUNT AND PLAY 1 INNING LESS THAN PRESCRIBED REGULATION GAME
REFUNDS ARE NOT GIVEN ONCE AN EVENT IS POSTED. IN THE EVENT OF A RAIN OUT OR INCLEMENT WEATHER SITUATION THERE WILL BE A $50 FEE THAT IS NOT REFUNDABLE. REFUNDS WILL BE DETERMINED BY NUMBER OF GAMES PLAYED IF ONE GAME IS PLAYED REFUND WILL BE 50% LESS $50; IF TWO GAMES ARE PLAYED REFUND WILL BE 20% LESS $50.00.
COACHES WILL BE PROVIDED A COPY OF TOURNAMENT BRACKET, AND ASKED TO FILL OUT COACHES FORM FOR PHONE CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION PURPOSES AND ACKNOWLEDGE THEY ARE WELL VERSED IN TOURNAMENT RULES TO BE FOLLOWED - - PLEASE DOWNLOAD YOUR PERSONAL COPY OF RULES FROM OUR WEB SITE
ANY TEAM THAT WITHDRAWS AFTER PAYING AN EVENT WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENT WILL NOT BE GIVEN A FULL REFUND AT WITHDRAWAL. THERE WILL BE A $75.00 FEE FOR SOLD OUT EVENTS AND $45.00 FOR ANY EVENT NOT SOLD OUT. THERE WILL BE NO REFUND GIVEN IN ANY EVENT ONCE THE BRACKETS HAVE BEEN DRAWN. RUIDOSO SELLS OUT 4-6 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE START AND THERE ARE ROOM COSTS THAT VENDORS DO NOT REFUND. A TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR MAY DECIDE ON WHETHER TO EXTEND CREDIT FOR A FUTURE EVENT.
GAME REQUESTS CAN ONLY BE MADE BY EMAIL.
VICTOR FALVEY: USSSA NM BASEBALL STATE AND TXW AREA DIRECTOR
LARRY HERNANDEZ: NM AND TXW TOURNAMENT AND AREA DIRECTOR
DAVID LARA: NM AND TXW TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR/UMPIRE IN CHIEF/SITE DIRECTOR
BRUCE MORRIS: NM AND TXW UMPIRE IN CHIEF/SITE DIRECTOR
CHAMP HERNANDEZ: NM AND TXW TOURNAMENT AND SITE DIRECTOR
KYLE FALVEY: NM/TXW SITE DIRECTOR
DIANE ULLOA : MARKETING COORDINATOR
